What can you do with a History degree from Hillsdale College?

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from Hillsdale College we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 40%, History graduates from Hillsdale College have a substantially lower likelihood (-27%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 40%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 30% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most History graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random History graduate from Hillsdale College and our analysis:


Relevance score: 43%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from Hillsdale College with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Inside Sales & Infrastructure
Pole Base
Mar 2015 - Oct 2015
The role of Inside Sales & Infrastructure does not use specific historical knowledge or skills, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in History.

Financial Administrative Assistant
Manthei Veneer Mill Inc
Nov 2015 - Jul 2016
The position of Financial Administrative Assistant does not require history knowledge and primarily focuses on financial administration tasks unrelated to the study of history.

Operations Analyst
Sky Valley Resort
Aug 2016 - Present
As an Operations Analyst at a resort, there may be some transferable skills from history such as analytical thinking and understanding of cultural context, but the core qualifications do not center around historical knowledge.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a History degree from Hillsdale College?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the career paths of people who studied History at Hillsdale College, it’s clear that many of them ended up in jobs that don’t really relate to their degree all that much. A lot of graduates went into roles like administrative assistants, communication coordinators, and various positions in sales, which typically don’t require a deep understanding of historical contexts or critical thinking skills honed through a history program. For example, jobs in retail, administrative roles, or even as a laboratory technician primarily focus on skills that are pretty far removed from historical study.

However, some graduates did find ways to apply their history background effectively. Roles like teaching history or serving as a law clerk often leveraged their historical knowledge and analytical abilities, which is great! It shows that while there are plenty of folks who ended up in the more common, less history-related jobs, others really made sure to utilize what they learned in college in direct and impactful ways. Overall, there’s a mixed bag when it comes to relevance, with a notable number veering toward positions that don’t necessarily align with their degree, but a solid group still engaging with historical themes in their careers.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for History graduates (this is across all History graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Hillsdale College):

What kind of career trajectories do History graduates from Hillsdale College have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from Hillsdale College with a degree in History seem to have a diverse mix of career paths, highlighting both traditional and unexpected trajectories. Right after graduation, many land jobs that are not directly related to history, such as administrative roles, research positions, and various entry-level jobs in different sectors like sales, healthcare, or even education. For example, the 2013 graduate started as an Administrative Assistant but eventually moved into the medical field, becoming a Resident Physician. There are also graduates who embrace careers in law, educational roles, or program management, showcasing the versatility of a history degree.

Fast forward five to ten years, and the landscape looks a bit mixed. While some graduates appear to secure roles in related fields like teaching history or working in policy and research, a significant number seem to pivot into different sectors entirely, such as business, healthcare, or even retail. This raises questions about the direct applicability of their history degrees in certain professional environments. In essence, while some alumni utilize their background in history effectively, others explore a broader range of career options that may not align closely with their studies. So, while a history degree can be a stepping stone into various fields, graduates should be prepared for a winding road ahead in their career journeys.

How hard is a History degree from Hillsdale College?

A Bachelor’s degree in History at Hillsdale College can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your interests. If you enjoy reading, writing, and diving deep into different time periods and cultures, it might not feel overly strenuous for you. The coursework typically involves a lot of readings, essays, and critical thinking, so if you're up for the intellectual grind and love exploring the past, you'll probably find it engaging rather than overwhelming. That said, if you prefer more hands-on or practical subjects, you might find the heavy emphasis on theoretical analysis and writing a bit tough. Overall, it’s about average in difficulty compared to other liberal arts degrees, but your passion for the subject will make a huge difference in how hard it feels!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in History.

Do History graduates from Hillsdale College tend to make good money?

Looking at the careers of these Hillsdale College history grads, it seems like some are doing pretty well, while others are still figuring things out. The first grad has climbed the ranks in the legal field, moving from intern to Senior Vice President, which usually indicates a decent paycheck, likely over six figures. The medical grad is also on a promising path, being a resident physician—though that's often a grind, it can lead to a substantial income eventually. On the flip side, some recent grads are in more entry-level positions or jobs that traditionally don’t pay as much, like teaching and retail, which might not be the best financially. Overall, it seems like a mixed bag; there are definitely some success stories, but not everyone seems to be bringing in bank just yet.

What buzzwords do History graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in History (this is across all History graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Hillsdale College). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for History?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in History (ordered by the average relevance score of their History graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
University of Connecticut 60 10
The University of Georgia 56 11
College of Charleston 54 10
Yale University 53 21
University of North Texas 52 21
University of Virginia 50 18
University of Pittsburgh 49 12
University of California, Santa Cruz 48 13
Rutgers University 48 10
Towson University 47 10
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 46 15
Binghamton University 46 10
University of Florida 45 23
Brigham Young University 45 15
Christopher Newport University 45 12
The University of Texas at Austin 44 16
University of Houston 44 19
San Francisco State University 44 17
Texas State University 44 11
The George Washington University 44 13
University of Washington 43 17
San Jose State University 43 12
Southern New Hampshire University 42 15
James Madison University 42 18
Louisiana State University 42 12
Texas Tech University 41 15
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 41 12
Hillsdale College 40 10
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 39 10
University of South Carolina 39 11
Texas A&M University 38 23
Florida State University 37 21
University of California, Los Angeles 37 37
North Carolina State University 37 14
University of Oregon 37 11
Northern Arizona University 36 10
University of Central Florida 35 24
Old Dominion University 34 10
Davidson College 34 11
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 33 10
Columbia College 33 13
University of Michigan 31 15
University of Nebraska at Omaha 31 11
Arizona State University 30 13
George Mason University 29 14
University of Mississippi 29 10
Virginia Commonwealth University 28 10
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 26 16
University of California, Berkeley 25 16
The Citadel 24 11
The Ohio State University 23 18
University of Arizona 23 13
Georgia State University 23 11
Michigan State University 20 11
University of South Florida 18 20
Ashford University 18 11
University of Kentucky 17 12
Virginia Military Institute 14 11